Outdoor Lighting in Pittsburgh, PA (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
New construction and major renovations in Pittsburgh must use shielded, full-cutoff outdoor light fixtures to cut glare and light pollution under the city's Lighting Code.
Pittsburgh Outdoor Lighting Shielding Code
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 1201.03; § 1201.06; § 1201.10
New Uses and Buildings. For all proposed new land uses, developments, buildings, and structures that require a permit, all outdoor lighting installations shall meet the requirements of this Code. ... All lighting installations shall be designed to minimize or eliminate light pollution to the fullest extent possible by use of permanently installed shielding on luminaires.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Pittsburgh's Lighting Code requires new and majorly renovated outdoor lighting to use permanently installed shielding and, above 3,500 lumens, cutoff or full cutoff optics: enforced by the Department of Public Works with a $100 daily fine per violation.
Pittsburgh Light Pollution and Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 1201.06
All lighting installations shall be designed to minimize or eliminate light pollution to the fullest extent possible by use of permanently installed shielding on luminaires. The extent of shielding shall be determined in conjunction with the optical classification to meet trespass requirements listed in Section 1201.07. (c) Cutoff Optics Required. (1) Applicability: Class 1—Roadway, Class...
Billboard Lighting
Pittsburgh caps electronic billboards at 2,500 nits during the day and 250 nits at night, with automatic dimmers and annual certification required under the zoning code's advertising sign standards.
Pittsburgh Electronic Billboard Brightness Limits
Significant RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 919.02.C.3(c)
During daylight hours between sunrise and sunset, luminance shall be no greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) nits. At all other times, luminance shall be no greater than two hundred fifty (250) nits.
Looking for Allegheny County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pittsburgh city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Allegheny County →